VW bike rack

Celia Vanchez

Celia Vanchez

Messages
88
Location
Jersey
Vehicle
T6.1 Coast 199
Does anyone know the total payload for the VW bike rack? My wife is contemplating buying an electric bike. I have one already, a Specialized Vado SL 4.0 so her choice of bike will be very important if weight turns out to be a deciding issue
 
Does anyone know the total payload for the VW bike rack? My wife is contemplating buying an electric bike. I have one already, a Specialized Vado SL 4.0 so her choice of bike will be very important if weight turns out to be a deciding issue

Mine is for a T6.1 and if I remember correctly it carries 60kg.


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Does anyone know the total payload for the VW bike rack? My wife is contemplating buying an electric bike. I have one already, a Specialized Vado SL 4.0 so her choice of bike will be very important if weight turns out to be a deciding issue

I assume you mean tailgate hanging carrier and not a towball mounted one? If so, the overall weight rating is 60kg, but each rail is rated at 17kg. That is probably not enough for electric bikes, you should look at towball mounted ones (assuming you have a towball) that have higher load ratings.
 
I assume you mean tailgate hanging carrier and not a towball mounted one? If so, the overall weight rating is 60kg, but each rail is rated at 17kg. That is probably not enough for electric bikes, you should look at towball mounted ones (assuming you have a towball) that have higher load ratings.
Even with the battery removed you are likely to exceed 20 Kg. My newly acquired electric MTB exceeds the length and width of the rails on my Atera Strada D3, so keep that in mind if you contemplate getting a new carrier.
 
I think you will have 2 issues.
1) e-bikes will be difficult to get on the rack from a weight/balance perspective. Particularly if you are on the shorter side.
2) With that amount of weight you are at risk of bending the tailgate.

When considering e-Bikes, a tow bar carrier is definitely the way to go.
 
If you go Vado SL route for second bike (as you should, imho :), you should be fine as they're around 15 kg each. If you're ok with getting them on and off, of course.
 
If you go Vado SL route for second bike (as you should, imho :), you should be fine as they're around 15 kg each. If you're ok with getting them on and off, of course.
Thank you. I was thinking of going the same route as my bike. I wasn’t’t aware they were only coming in at 15kg although its ‘light’ looks was a factor in decision to go for it. I’ve had no problem getting it on the rack so far but…….the years are rolling by
 
I assume you mean tailgate hanging carrier and not a towball mounted one? If so, the overall weight rating is 60kg, but each rail is rated at 17kg. That is probably not enough for electric bikes, you should look at towball mounted ones (assuming you have a towball) that have higher load ratings.
Thank you RedWhiteMonkey. I did indeed mean the tailgate version. In another post I found out that my bike comes in at less than 17kg so I would look at getting my wife a similar but smaller one version of my bike. Hopefully that means the rack will be fine for our purposes as it will only be for the two of us.

I totally understand your comments about a towbar mounted rack however, on reflection, I was put off getting one by our dealer since it would prove to almost double that of the tailgate rack.
 
We’ve carried two ebikes for a couple of years now without a problem. They are 22kgs each without batteries. It does take two of us to lift them on tho’.
 
I was looking at getting a larger wheeled folding electric bike and cover and transporting it between the front and rear seats ( no rear seat passengers). It looks like an easier option for me than purchasing a bike carrier.
 
Thule wanderway for 2 bikes has a load limit of 60kg in total. My husband has the exact same bike as you. I have a gazelle very upright at 23kgs and we are both over 60. We struggle lifting mine and I certainly cannot lift on my own. I am still reluctant to give up the exceptional comfort it gives me on cycling. I am waiting for a lightweight one that will still give me comfort! At some point I will need to change.
 
Thule wanderway for 2 bikes has a load limit of 60kg in total. My husband has the exact same bike as you. I have a gazelle very upright at 23kgs and we are both over 60. We struggle lifting mine and I certainly cannot lift on my own. I am still reluctant to give up the exceptional comfort it gives me on cycling. I am waiting for a lightweight one that will still give me comfort! At some point I will need to change.
You can get a detachable ramp to load the bike.

 
I was looking at getting a larger wheeled folding electric bike and cover and transporting it between the front and rear seats ( no rear seat passengers). It looks like an easier option for me than purchasing a bike carrier.
You could probably do something similar to this for an e-bike too if you don’t mind taking the wheels off - which also makes it a lot less clumsy and more secure to fit in. Works equally well for my 29er mountain bike. The frame is made by Evoc and it’s actually made to fit in their flight bag, but it fits as if it was made for this. Worth getting a chain cover so don’t get oil on anything, I use the Evoc one.

IMG_3400.jpeg
 
Does anyone know the total payload for the VW bike rack? My wife is contemplating buying an electric bike. I have one already, a Specialized Vado SL 4.0 so her choice of bike will be very important if weight turns out to be a deciding issue
Or consider the new range of Cube Kathmandu C62 Carbon framed E bikes, either man’s frame or ‘easy access’ weighs in around 16 kg. Insanely light and handle like a regular bike. Costly, but with bikes the more you pay the less (weight) you get.
 
Mine is for a T6.1 and if I remember correctly it carries 60kg.


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If you go Vado SL route for second bike (as you should, imho :), you should be fine as they're around 15 kg each. If you're ok with getting them on and off
I have a Vado SL EQ (Inc rack/mudguards/lights) & it weighs 18kgs. I keep it on an Atera Genio pro towbar rack.
 
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Or consider the new range of Cube Kathmandu C62 Carbon framed E bikes, either man’s frame or ‘easy access’ weighs in around 16 kg. Insanely light and handle like a regular bike. Costly, but with bikes the more you pay the less (weight) you get.
Correction: weighs 17 kg: there is a move in both road/off road E bike circles away from the bigger battery+more powerful motor progression towards a more balanced approach which considers the handling of the bike, its responsiveness and its liveability as more important factors. The bikes were becoming tank like and too heavy to lift. Living with an e-bike and travelling with one via a van does require a certain amount of lifting, even with a tail mounted rack, so all up weight is a factor to consider. So far the only disadvantage we can see of this lighter/more liveable approach is the the batteries are usually fixed in the frame so demand charging on the bike which sometimes in hotels/ b&b’s/hostels can be a challenge.
 
Or consider the new range of Cube Kathmandu C62 Carbon framed E bikes, either man’s frame or ‘easy access’ weighs in around 16 kg. Insanely light and handle like a regular bike. Costly, but with bikes the more you pay the less (weight) you get.
Thank you. I’d not thought of Cube as you don’t see many around locally.
 
We’ve carried two ebikes for a couple of years now without a problem. They are 22kgs each without batteries. It does take two of us to lift them on tho’.
Thanks Dave, that’s very useful to know
 

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